Global Cement News

US: Robert McCaffrey, the editorial director of Global Cement, has presented ‘The global cement industry in 2050’ at the 61st IEEE-IAS/PCA Cement Technical Conference 2019 taking place at St Louis in Missouri. The presentation used data from a variety of sources to explore how the cement and concrete industries could look in 2050 including shifts in societies, demographics, technologies, business and the environment.

For more information about the presentation and to download a copy visit: www.globalcement.com/reports/cement-2050

Global Cement is exhibiting at the IEEE-IAS/PCA at Booth 128

Thailand: Siam Cement Group’s (SCG) cement division’s sales grew by 4% year-on-year to US$1.51bn in the first quarter of 2019. Its earnings before interest, taxation, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) rose by 10% to US$222m. It attributed the growth in earnings on increased cement prices and cost savings. Overall, the group’s sales and earnings fell due to poor performance from its chemicals division.

Nigeria: Dangote Cement’s earnings have fallen due to elections and price cuts in Nigeria and competition in the rest of Sub-Saharan Africa. Its earnings before interest, taxation, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) dropped by 11.2% year-on-year to US$312m in the first quarter of 2019 from US$351m in the same period in 2018. Sales revenue fell slightly to US$670m, due to declines in Nigeria. Cement sales volumes grew slightly to 3.99Mt in Nigeria and by 4.8% to 2.35Mt in the rest of Africa. Despite this Dangote Cement noted that its sales volumes in Nigeria were its third-highest quarterly volume ever.

“It was a challenging quarter with delays to the Nigerian elections that impacted sales, increased discounting in Nigeria and tougher market conditions in South Africa and other Pan-African markets. In addition, our variable costs were hit by foreign exchange effects, as well as higher fuel and distribution costs,” said Joe Makoju, group chief executive officer (CEO) of Dangote Cement.

Peru: UNACEM’s income rose by 1% year-on-year to US$145m in the first quarter of 2019 from US$143m in the same period in 2018. Its profit grew by 21% to US$57.5m from US$47.4m. Its cement despatches increased by 6.3% to 1.27Mt from 1.20Mt. The cement producer said that although its sale volumes had increased its prices had lowered. Fuel costs also rose.

Mozambique: Cimentos de Mocambique has closed its Matola plant due to low demand. It made the decision following large losses, according to the O Pais newspaper. The subsidiary of Brazil’s Intercement said that the unit cost US$25m. It operates one integrated plant and four grinding plants in the country with a total production capacity of 2.9Mt/yr.